Email this article to a friend

Nearly 2,000 convicted over 2011 London riots

LONDON (AP) - Sixteen gang members have received prison sentences ranging from 16 months to nine years for their role in Britain's riots a year ago.

The riots lasted from Aug. 7-10, 2011. They were triggered by the police killing of a London gang member and swept several English cities including the capital.

Chief London prosecutor Alison Saunders says the 16 punished Wednesday met each other through gang connections and launched "one of the most overt campaigns of violent disorder, burglary, robbery and assault seen during the London disorder."

Saunders says nearly 2,000 people have been convicted for crimes committed during the riots. Investigators are still checking surveillance footage as they try to identify other rioters.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)